May 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--One of the most important services the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce offers to the entire business community is our ongoing advocacy, including ballot initiatives and legislative issues. We are proud to serve as the voice of the business community in East County, and take that responsibility seriously.

East County Chamber opposes Prop 29, which would increase taxes on cigarettes

“It’s going to save us a lot of money….By not having to pay prevailing wages, this gives us more control over our own destiny.” –Councilman Bill Wells

“I’m concerned about corruption…It is a power grab by a few individuals and the people must say no.” – David Secor, candidate for Congress

May 6, 2012 (El Cajon) – State Senator Joel Anderson hosted a fundraiser last week to raise money for proposition D, a measure that would turn El Cajon into a charter city. While supporters gathered inside praising the plan as a money-saver for the city, outside, protesters carrying ”Stop corruption signs” claimed just the opposite –that Prop D could enable unfair bidding practices, suppress wages, and potentially cost more in the long run through sweetheart deals with developers without public scrutiny.

May 4, 2012 (La Mesa) Evan McLaughlin from the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, speaking Wednesday night at the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club, urged El Cajon residents to vote “no” on Prop D, the charter city proposal. He also asked San Diego residents to vote against Prop A and Prop B.

April 24, 2012 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon is a city of 99,478, with 37,157 registered voters (4/6/12 SDROV). Democrats number 12,453, Republicans 14,416, and No Party Preference (NPP) 8,294. El Cajon is the poorest city in the county, with 30% of its population living at or below the poverty line. It is a multi-ethnic, multicultural city having this composition: 57% white, 28% Hispanic, 4% Asian & Pacific Islander, 6% Black, and 5% other. El Cajon’s population is 51% female and 49% male. (All population data are from the 2010 Census available at SANDAG.org.)

October 27, 2011 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon may become another in a string of cities to remove itself from the safeguards of state law and give “supreme authority” in municipal affairs to the city council. The measure is touted as a cost-savings step. But in some areas, charter city status has led to abuse and even fleecing of taxpayers—notably in Bell, California.